Few players available in the NFL Draft’s three-day meat market possess the awesome body and physical characteristics of Jason Pierre-Paul, who in only one season at South Florida flashed enough potential for scouts to classify him as the prototype boom-or-bust prospect. He will surely be taken higher than he should be based on his production on the field and will make some general manager look prescient or imprudent.

With the 15th overall pick Thursday night, will the Giants’ Jerry Reese take the bait? Unlikely, unless the disquieting murmurs ring true that Osi Umenyiora is or will be on the trading block, a possibility that could change everything.

Even factoring in the organization’s mantra — “You can never have enough pass-rushers” — it would be overkill to take a sack-happy defensive end with Justin Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka and Umenyiora already on the roster, as well as second-year linebacker Clint Sintim as a get-the-quarterback option. If the front office is convinced Umenyiora will become a distraction if he’s not reinserted into the starting lineup and can rustle up a second- or even third-round draft pick for him, a trade scenario certainly is plausible. The Rams (with former Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) and Panthers (without Julius Peppers) are logical trade partners.

Umenyiora — benched down the stretch of last season — flatly stated during Super Bowl week he’d retire rather than accept a reserve role once again. Of course, that’s laughable, but there’s nothing funny about his desire to be dealt if the Giants in his view don’t see the error of their ways and return him to his rightful place at right defensive end. He’s led the team in sacks every year since 2004 (except for 2008, when he missed the entire season following knee surgery) and despite his disgruntlement has been a steady participant in the off-season workout program.

Head coach Tom Coughlin has offered no guarantees to Umenyiora and none will be forthcoming. Tuck is ensconced as a starter and Kiwanuka is a big favorite of Coughlin’s, a high-effort, ascending player who won’t be easy to displace from the lineup. The Giants prefer a three-man rotation at defensive end but if Umenyiora is No. 3, he won’t be happy and, given his recent publicly stated unrest, won’t keep quiet about his displeasure.

Most mock drafts have Pierre-Paul available to the Giants at No. 15 and if the Giants take him — or Georgia Tech’s Derrick Morgan if Morgan unexpectedly drops — a deal involving Umenyiora could be in the works. The question for the Giants: Is Pierre-Paul worth the risk? Born to Haitian émigrés, he did not debut in football until his junior year of high school and then played at community college and junior college before making his way to South Florida. In one season — 13 games, only seven starts — he had 61⁄2 sacks, and after his junior year declared for the draft.

Is this enough of a track record to bank on? Pierre-Paul passes the eyeball test in a big way, as he’s nearly 6-foot-5, 270 pounds with a long frame, huge wingspan and exceptional agility and balance. When he lines up on the edge and takes aim at the quarterback, he reminds some of Simeon Rice and will make some plays that leave opponents in jaw-drop amazement.

The gamble is that Pierre-Paul is raw, unproven, basically a one-move pass rusher and has little formal training.

“When he sees it, he chases it,” is the assessment of one scout.

But he does have on tape 13 consecutive back-flips, which adds to the legend of his athletic prowess. This is a classic case of a player with a small sample on the field lifted up by what some believe he can become.

“What they do on the field is what is more important to us,” Reese said. “We are looking for football players, not gymnasts.”